HOLY. We survived!! A complete kitchen renovation (including wall removal and construction!) in 10 days. I’ve never been more elated to share a project with you guys! We partnered with Samsung to launch their latest appliance color Tuscan Stainless Steel and overhauled the kitchen at our family cabin. Are you ready to see how it turned out!? (You can read all where we started here!)
Technically this is where we started when we bought the cabin 5 years ago.
Grody.
But this is where we were starting with this reno. Less grody but not great.
Some of our biggest frustrations were
- zero storage
- outdated cabinets
- remnant countertops
- 15 yr old appliances
- cut glass and brass ceiling fans
And this is what it looks like now!!
Could you just die!? It looks incredible!!
The view from the other side is just as magical.
There is just so much to talk about!
Tuscan Stainless Appliances
Let’s start with the epicenter for this whole space. The warm bronze of Samsung’s Tuscan Stainless Steel appliances. What an impactful change from standard stainless right?! I was at the unveiling of the color in February and loved it then, but seeing it again I loved it even more.
It was less brown than I remember and changes based on the light in the space. It could easily be integrated in with stainless appliances (like if you need to replace just a fridge) without looking out of place. I love that it has a mix of matte Tuscan stainless and chrome.
It completely elevates the whole renovation!
Cabinetry
One of my biggest worries using an IKEA kitchen was that it would look too basic, but I think it looks awesome! The custom shelf makes all the difference right?!
We built the shelf out of plywood, and metal straps. I LOVE the industrial vibe that raw edge plywood, gives off. One trick when you are working with raw edge plywood is to cover the whole edge with wood filler and then sand it off. It will fill in all of the small holes and gaps and make the edge look more finished.
Hands down our biggest frustration with the space was storage. We literally had 1 upper cabinet that served as a pantry for 5 families. It was a nightmare!! I decided to take the non-functional bump out by the stairs, frame it in, and add floor to ceiling cabinets.
While I was a little bummed to lose the natural light, this is going to be the biggest game changer! I mean, just look at all of that storage!!!
We covered both walls with 4×4 white tile (you can get it in stock at Home Depot!) My go to is white grout, so that is what I did on the first wall, but it just didnt feel right so I ended up covering it with this product in Oyster and I am so happy with how it turned out. Changing the grout color in a space can freshen it up more than you can imagine! If your kitchen is feeling meh, you should try it!
Being a cabin and all I wanted to keep with the raw wood vibe we were already embracing by using a natural wood countertop. The original plan was to use a stainless sink, but after we (I) accidentally cut the hole too big I swapped it out for this larger black composite sink. and HOLY COW what a happy accident. The black looks significantly better than the stainless did!
Want to see the ENTIRE renovation happen in less than 5 minutes? Watch the timelapse video below!
Love it and all your tips.
It looks amazing Mandi!!! Once again your brilliance shines through. It’s absolutely beautiful! I can’t wait to get up there and enjoy it!! Thank you!!!
I’m kind of glad you also broke the light too! Everything looks amazing!
So great! Congrats guys!
This was so fun to watch with your instagram stories! I am so inspired I LOVE EVERYTHING! Lucky to have such a glam cabin! My mother-in-law has one up in Duck Creek and it is so painfully stuck in the 80s. Love that whole wall of storage, what a fantastic addition.
Looks awesome!! Will you be sharing anymore details about the other elements of the space such as what’s cabinets you used and that sink etc?
Looks amazing! I love the black and white wall clock! Can you share where it’s from?
Oh my gosh! I love this renovation so much, the custom open shelving has me all heart eyes!
I do have to admit that watching you assemble the cabinets in the video has me questioning if I could ever do an Ikea kitchen. That looked so hard!
It looks amazing! Cabin, ha! I’d love that in my home 🙂 one question – why didnt you do an island – it looks like the kitchen is crying out for one? I am sure you have a good reason – just curious 🙂
I think an island would be a great idea too! But would be super easy to just buy a moveable piece of furniture or a rolling island on casters 🙂
What’s the source on the cabinet hardware?? It’s beautiful!
Agree!!! Would love to know
Looove that video, so fun! I wish ceilings were painted that fast in real life. 😛
Hi! I have been thinking about doing something similar in my kitchen with the plywood shelves. Can you give some more info on the specific process of attaching it to the wall, type of plywood, a source for those gorgeous straps? I would love to be able to get this same look in my kitchen.
Thank you for sharing so many wonderful DIY projects. It makes it seem so much more manageable when I see you do it.
This looks amazing!! Brilliant idea with the wall of storage by the stairs – I’m feeling that pain right now in my own kitchen. Loved the timelapse video – thanks! 🙂
I couldn’t believe you went with open shelves when one of your complaints was no storage space. I was about to call you out on it until I saw that entire wall of storage that you created. I live in an extremely small space and am so envious of you all having so much space for storage. Great make over.
Which IKEA cabinets did you use?
Hey,
I saw that you had to cover windows in order to get that large shelving unit it. Would you have considered maybe adding an island instead so you could keep the window and still get extra storage?
I love the rug! I’m assuming it’s one-of-a-kind, but can you tell us more?
I may be the only person not into the custom plywood open shelves, but the storage wall has me DROOLING. Just a fantastic idea. Also, the Ikea cupboards really do look great.
Looks gorgeous! Love everything about it.
Love the raw wood and how you trimmed everything out with it! So much goodness in this space!
I’m kind of sad that you switched from being a DIY how-to blog waaaay back in the day to a “look at the pretty thing I bought and installed website” – with nothing about how your readers can do the same. It’s fun to look at your photos, but as a reader, it’s much less engaging to just look at all your big pretty houses and not actually learn anything. I guess you have enough followers now who like just seeing photos that your formula is working, but it’d be so nice if you, or a staff person (maybe a job for the kiddos?) could respond when people ask how you did XYZ or where you bought it. Or just post it with the story. That’d be nice too. Anyway, I still stop by here sometimes and I’m happy for your success, but I often feel like I could be looking at Houzz or something since it’s mostly just pretty pictures and pre-fab Ikea and Home Depot.
I echo so many people here and want a source list. Specifically what sealant you used on that ply that keeps it so matte and not yellow!!!! I’m assuming with being over a water source, it has some good water repellent properties. I’m in the market to recreate this look for an outdoor table top.
We love the way you described the entire kitchen renovation project. We do remodeling and kitchen repairs in Orange County community. We love your blog and use your inspirations for our clients. Appreciate the share!
So lovely! 2 questions—where did you get the pendant light above the sink? And I’d love to know what product you used for the grout…I couldn’t find the link?
How did you change the grout color?
Simply amazing, great utilization of resources.